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ISBN: HB: 9780226014692

University of Chicago Press

March 2014

264 pp.

22.8x15.2 cm

65 halftones

HB:
£20,50
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Land and Wine

The French Terroir

For centuries, France has long been the world's greatest wine-producing country. Its wines are the global gold standard, prized by collectors, and its winemaking regions each offer unique tasting experiences, from the spice of Bordeaux to the berry notes of the Loire Valley. Although grape variety, climate, and the skill of the winemaker are essential in making good wine, the foundation of a wine's character is the soil in which its grapes are grown. Who could better guide us through the relationship between the French land and the wine than a geologist, someone who deeply understands the science behind the soil? Enter scientist Charles Frankel. In "Land and Wine", Frankel takes readers on a tour of the French winemaking regions to illustrate how the soil, underlying bedrock, relief, and microclimate shape the personality of a wine. The book's twelve chapters each focus in depth on a different region, including the Loire Valley, Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne, Provence, the Rhi´ne valley, and Bordeaux, to explore the full meaning of terroir. In this approachable guide, Frankel describes how Cabernet Franc takes on a completely different character depending on whether it is grown on gravel or limestone; how Sauvignon yields three different products in the hills of Sancerre when rooted in limestone, marl, or flint; how Pinot Noir will give radically different wines on a single hill in Burgundy as the vines progress upslope; and how the soil of each chi¢teau in Bordeaux has a say in the blend ratios of Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon".Land and Wine" provides a detailed understanding of the variety of French wine as well as a look at the geological history of France, complete with volcanic eruptions, a parade of dinosaurs, and a menagerie of evolution that has left its fossils flavoring the vineyards. Both the uninitiated wine drinker and the confirmed oenophile will find much to savor in this fun guide that Frankel has spiked with anecdotes about winemakers and historic wine enthusiasts – revealing which kings, poets, and philosophers liked which wines best – while offering travel tips and itineraries for visiting the wineries today.


Content

Preface

1. Savennieres and Other Wines of Anjou
2. Beaujolais
3. Alsace
4. Pouilly-Fuisse and Other Wines of Maconnais
5. Corton and Other Wines of Burgundy
6. Sancerre and the Upper Loire Valley
7. The Central Loire Valley: Bourgueil, Chinon, and Saumur
8. Vineyards of Provence
9. Languedoc's Vines and Dinosaurs
10. Champagne
11. Bordeaux
12. The Rhone Valley

Glossary
Bibliography
Index of Geographical and Wine Names
General Index

About the Author

Born in Paris, Charles Frankel is a science writer and lecturer specializing in geology and planetary exploration. His books include "The End of the Dinosaurs: Chicxulub Crater and Mass Extinctions", "Worlds on Fire", and "Guide des cepages et terroirs".

Reviews

"Charles Frankel's 'Land and Wine' recounts the story of wine in France from a unique geological perspective, highlighting the influence of the land and soil on the quality and style of the wines. In doing so, Frankel demystifies the idea of 'terroir' and offers approachable anecdotes that will entertain and appeal to wine enthusiasts" – James Lawther, Decanter

"A celebration of both science and art, the book demystifies the perplexities of wine – and the pretensions of so much wine-writing – in a manner as refreshing to the reader as tasting a crisp bottle of Sancerre, while learning its origins lie deep in Jurassic, Cretaneous, and Tertiary bedrock" – John Varriano, from the Foreword

"Can one really relate geology to taste? Most certainly. 'Land and Wine: The French Terroir' is an intriguing book. For those who love dinosaurs and drinking wine, or who seek to gain deeper, more profoundly thoughtful and complex pleasures from within a bottle, this book is a must read" – Marc Million, author of "Wine: A Global History"